Safety at Sea/Man Overboard

[eric (deceased)]

avoid as much as you can from becoming part of the food chain

[commanderpete]

Here's a link, and some diagrams


http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies/1986overboardstudy.htm

[CapnK]

In reverse order:

4) 'Gettin et up' by sharks.

3) Sinking.

2) Lightning.


and #1:

Getting hit by lightning while the boat is sinking in the middle of a school of hungry sharks.

[ebb]

Thanks for the great diagrams, C'pete!
Which do you favor specific to the A/C?

[commanderpete]

I dunno. I've only been involved in one MOB. I was out on a friend's boat. One of the guys climbed up from below, lost his balance, and rolled over the side--right under the lifeline. I was at the tiller. Happened so fast I couldn't even make a grab for him.

I just tacked the boat around and went straight for him. Then we hauled him over the side.

This was about 25 years ago. I didn't know anything about recovery methods.

The idea is just to get back ASAP.

Things may not work out like in the diagrams. Most sailors have very little experience in close-quarters maneuvering under sail. It can be more tricky than you think. You may need to account for leeway, current, wave action, etc.

Best thing you can do is practice with floating objects. Approach them, go past, turn around, approach again. Doesn't have to be formal practice. I've picked up so many fenders and hats I've found floating around that I don't know what to do with them.

Most people fall overboard at the dock, myself included

[commanderpete]

Good thing there wasn't a camera around

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5m-cO6486k